U of A Student Named National Teacher of the Year

Jessica Culver teaches at Ozark High School while also earning a doctorate in adult and lifelong learning delivered online by the University of Arkansas. She took a brief break from both activities recently to receive teacher of the year honors from a national organization.

Culver was named the 2025-2026 National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS) Secondary Level Social Studies Teacher of the Year at the NCSS Conference Opening Ceremony on Dec. 5 in Washington, D.C. This award recognizes achievements and excellence in social studies education. Culver is also president-elect of ACSS, the Arkansas Council for the Social Studies.

"I was so honored to accept the 2025-2026 National Council for the Social Studies Secondary Level Social Studies Teacher of the Year Award this December in Washington, D.C.," she said. "I am proud to be both an Arkansas educator and a University of Arkansas ADLL doctoral student, and I am thankful for all of the support."

Culver is scheduled to graduate with her doctorate next May. She is also a recipient of the W.E. Manning Memorial Scholarship for the past two academic years awarded by the Global Campus to students enrolled in online degree programs.

These are just a few of the awards Culver has received through her dedication to promoting social studies education.

She was a 2024 Grosvenor Teacher Fellow, traveling on National Geographic's Quest through Alaska that summer. She is a frequent curriculum writer and workshop presenter at local, state and national levels and is an Arkansas Master Economics Teacher, a National Constitution Center Teacher, an iCivics Teacher, a National History Day Teacher, a member of the National Council for the Social Studies, a JumpStart Arkansas board member and a past Fulbright Teacher for Global Classrooms. She also partners with educational groups to record podcasts, evaluate curriculum, participate in professional development and present webinars.

She also was the 2024 Gilder Lehrman Arkansas History Teacher of the Year and a 2024 Fund for Teachers Fellow, by which she traveled through New England and Canada last summer, studying their history and economics.